Precious metals firm is Britain’s most admired company

Johnson Matthey, precious metals refiner and autocatalyst manufacturer, is the UK's most admired company according to a new survey.

What makes the Management Today reward now in its 24th year stand out is that it is based on peer ranking. The company also won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development this year.

Johnson Matthey, which traces its roots back to 1817 as a gold assayer, recently also had good news for the rest of the PGM industry.

According to its closely watched market forecast platinum and palladium will both post annual supply deficits of more than 1 million ounces this year.

That's not just because of the strikes in South Africa and the depletion of Russian stockpiles, but also improving underlying auto-catalyst demand.

“Johnson Matthey may not be a household name like many previous holders of the Britain's Most Admired Company award, but by consistently investing in R&D over many years and continuing to pursue new applications for its particular expertise in catalytic chemistry, Johnson Matthey proves that winners do not need to shout in order to be recognised as outstanding by their peers,” says Andrew Saunders, Deputy Editor of Management Today.